Democracy in Victor: Busy Being Born or Dying?

Meetings are long. Voices are louder. People are organizing, questioning, challenging, and showing up in new ways in Victor. That’s not a failure of democracy—it’s a sign of people caring deeply about this place and the decisions shaping its future. Right now, though, we are far better at breaking things down than building anything back up.

We are facing real, immovable constraints: federal deadlines that cannot be extended, and a wastewater system that must be fixed, with significant financial consequences no matter what path we choose.

A resident clarified in a text his main criticism of the Victor City Council as “our inability to communicate our reasoning for investing in a new plant to our constituents.” That’s fair feedback, especially given that our March 27, 2025, decision to pursue an independent plant was a long time ago, so I'll start there. Looking back to that meeting—well before recent failed mediation efforts with Driggs—my reasoning after weighing complex tradeoffs still stands:

Retaining control and responsibility over our sewer and water resources and capital improvements
A state-of-the-art Class A mechanical plant has promising potential for water reuse programs and soil-enhancing byproducts
The proposed site is at the lowest point in Victor, adjacent to existing power, water, and sewer infrastructure
We found a willing seller who presented favorable terms
The estimated costs of staying with Driggs under the contract they presented indicated that fixing Driggs’ failed plant and making the necessary associated infrastructure upgrades (estimated at an additional $20M) were comparable to building our own.

On this last point, it came down to what we've all experienced at some point: whether to continue pouring money into an old car with a questionable mechanic or invest in new, reliable, safer technology.

I write this on the tail end of three days at the Bioneers conference in Berkeley, immersed in a web of people on the front lines of social, political, and environmental change, where community organizing was central to every conversation. The most powerful takeaway? The communities that succeed are NOT the ones without conflict. They are the ones who learn how to work through conflict productively.

Right now, Victor is struggling with that. We’re talking past each other, escalating quickly, and risking losing sight of our shared goals. This is exactly the kind of moment where our local democracy can either deepen … or fracture.

I fully support community-led efforts, such as "watchdog" groups. Accountability makes us better. But accountability without solutions can unintentionally create more instability than progress. What I hope comes out of this moment are clear proposals that address questions like:

Will recalling the Mayor, disparaging staff, or delaying judicial confirmation save taxpayers money and make the City better—or just stall progress and cost even more?
Where is a better location that costs less money and has a willing seller?
How much more would starting from scratch cost?
Should Victor consider a plant with lower water quality standards to reduce costs?
Is continuing to protest the location of the new plant the best way to ensure it’s as environmentally and financially sound as possible—or should we put our energy into improving it?
How do we meet federal deadlines?
If a moratorium is proposed, how do we ensure it doesn’t result in a legal and financial outcome like Teton County’s recent $3 million settlement with Teton Creek Resort?

We don’t have to agree. But let’s make sure we’re building something we can stand behind together—not just tearing things down.

We will all live with what comes next. We can do better. I’m all ears.

Sue Muncaster
Victor City Councilor